Atlas of Acupuncture

5.3 Du mai

Location

On the midline, below the spinous process of the 1st thoracic

vertebra (T1).

How to find

Locate C7 (➞3.4.2). Palpate downward to the next spinous

process (T1) and locate Du-13on the midline, below its spinous

process.

Located on the same level are a point of ➞Ex-B-2/BL-11/S.I.-14

(0.5/1.5/3 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

0.3–1 cun strictly perpendicularly to the skin or obliquely in an

inferior direction, with the patient’s back straight or flexed in

order to avoid puncturing the spinal canal. Oblique insertions

should only be carried out by experienced practitioners, as in

small persons (irrespective of their body weight), the spinal

canal may be reached after only 1.25 cun.

Actions/Indications

● Dispels pathogenic factors

● Opens the channel and luo-connecting vessels

Special features

Meeting point with the BL channel

Way of Happiness TAODAO Du-13

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T1

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

Midline

Du-13

Medial base of

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

Du-14

Extension and

flexion of the

head

S.I.-15

G.B.-21

2 fingers on the

spinous processes

of C6 and 7

Medial borderof the scapula

BL-11 Medial base of

scapular spine

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T1

Spinous process T7

Spinous process C1

Spinous process C4

Levator

scapulae

S.I.-14

S.I.-13

Du-13 BL-11

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